Re: [Paddlewise] Butane vs. Candle Lanterns

From: Jochen Grikschat <grikschat_at_surfeu.de>
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 15:00:23 +0200
Moin Josh,

mh, first thoughts:
Butane may explode if treated "right" way. The bottles are heavy and almost
unpressable garbage. Butane gots more energy and used in a lantern you may
cook on it.
Wax burns also hot and is a good light. I use for many years my Uco (single)
candle lantern and for me it is great. Small and lightweight, you could burn
your finger on the top. The 3 candle lantern from Uco gots a big heat
reflector, you may cook on it.
Wax you will get everywhere on the world, but gas in the correct bootle may
be a problem.

Deeper thoughts:
Gas lantern are heavier than a Uco (or Northern lights) one.
Difficult  choice. Israel is quite warm, ey? Thats why you only get butane
there, I think. Gas and especially butane isnīt great in the cold nights.
Wax burns at any time. But donīt shake a candle lantern! Itīs a "great work"
to remove it from the glas.
Gas lantern will keep burning  if they are shaken, but sometimes they also
could burn your tent.
I remember a story Eckehard told me 2,5 years ago. He was out on the sea in
cold decembre (-5 degree celsius air). He had paddled a long Off Shore tour
to visit a slowly sinking ship (Pallas, wood freighter burning and sinking
on Amrum plate), rest for night on a high sand. Set up his new very thin
tent (single layer). Light his small tea wax light and want to fix the
screwing gas bottle to his cooker. But his fingers were so stiff he make a
mistake and gas was running out of the bootle. The valve stuck donīt close
any more. It was butane and by this temps it is almost liquid. The gas runs
towards his little waxlight and before he could avoid it, the gas starts to
burn and a huge flame get out his gas bottle. He grab the bottle and through
it away, against his new tent. The flame burns a hole in the side an the
bottle fall outside, where he could stop the flame.
I met him next day and his eyebrows had dissappeared.  Lucky one!
Little bit higher Temps. and it might had happen an explosion.

Okay, thats not normal, but with gas there is potentially higher risk of
hard damage if something fails.

For me, a gas lantern would only be acceptable if I donīt have to carry it.

Snow peak from japan come out with this revolutionary new concept. Snow peak
GigaPower GL-100A. This gas lantern is really really small size. 132 gramm
and 95x57mm size. The screwing gas bottle is double big as the lantern, but
the price! Donīt ask for it. You could buy two Uco Candeliers (3-lantern
type) for it.
A single candle light is enough for me, a 3 candle light should be more than
enough.

Hope this is more a help than a confusion to you!

You will find your ideal choice, I hope so.

bye
Jochen G.

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Received on Wed Apr 18 2001 - 05:58:12 PDT

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